Russellville asks judge to toss Williamson suitRussellville’s city attorney has filed a response to a lawsuit by a former mayor and requested the matter be dismissed. In a lawsuit filed Dec. 2, Tyrone Williamson named Circuit Clerk Fern Tucker, Tax Collector Rita Chandler, County Assessor Dana Baker, Pope County, the city of Russellville and former Commissioner of State Lands Mark Wilcox. The suit rises from problems with a property in Russellville at 410 S. Jonesboro Ave. that Williamson ...

Familiar faces, issues mark politics in 2013 LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Welcome to the new politics of Arkansas. It looks just like the old politics of Arkansas. Despite all the talk of the changed electoral landscape in Arkansas after recent GOP gains, there were plenty of familiar faces, themes and issues that highlighted the state's politics in 2013. • A two-term senator faced a frenzied and expensive re-election fight, fending off attacks from Republicans who tried to tie the lawmaker to Pre...

2013 marks a busy year for courts in Arkansas LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Challenges to portions of Arkansas' education system and the state's execution methods made their way through courts in 2013. A long-running desegregation lawsuit approached an apparent end after decades of state spending totaling more than $1 billion. Challenges to the state's gay-marriage ban bubbled up in state and federal court. And a group of death row inmates launched a fight over Arkansas' new lethal injection law. A ...

Pottsville to buy property near City HallPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council approved a resolution at its regular meeting Monday that will give Mayor Jerry Williams permission to enter into a contract and purchase the property adjacent to City Hall. The city agreed to purchase the property for $75,000. It will pay $35,000 immediately and the remaining balance when the current owner vacates the property, Williams said. The council also approved the 2014 budget and budget amendmen...

Johnson County deputy convicted of perjuryCLARKSVILLE (AP) — A Johnson County sheriff's deputy has been convicted of perjury for lying to a judge. Sgt. Glenda Morrison, 44, was found guilty Friday and sentenced to one year of probation, according to the Times Record. The felony conviction also means Morrison can no longer work in law enforcement. Morrison was convicted of lying to Circuit Judge William Pearson about comments she made to a jury as it prepared to deliberate the sentence...

Group drops effort to recall Texarkana directors TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — A group called Miller County Patriots is dropping efforts to recall three members of the Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors. Group vice president Dwayne Hall says the effort to recall Mike Jones, Londell Williams and Laney Harris is being dropped because the estimated $15,000 to $20,000 for an election would harm the city's budget. The Texarkana Gazette reported the city budget has $875,000 more in expenses than revenue...

Former judge convicted on drug chargesLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A former district judge in Pocahontas who once served a federal prison sentence for sending a live snake to a man, has been convicted on three federal drug charges. A federal jury in Little Rock found Bob Castleman, 63, guilty of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to maintain a drug premises and conspiracy to possess equipment and ingredients to make meth. Castleman did not testify and his attorney present...

Craig seeks Yell Co. treasurer officeDebra Craig announced that she will be a candidate in the Democratic primary for the office of Yell County Treasurer. A lifelong resident of Yell County, Debra is currently the chief deputy clerk and had been deputy clerk in the Circuit and County Clerk’s Office for over 19 years. She holds the position of payroll clerk in the Clerk’s office. She is also a secretary in the County Judge’s Office. Her home is in Danville with her husband Cameron...

Russellville aldermen look at contract engineer workRussellville aldermen are looking into the Public Works Department's contract labor expenses. During Thursday's City Council meeting, local aldermen approved the city's General Fund, Special Funds, and Capital Funds budgets. The Street Fund budget was approved with the exception of a contract labor line item and an engineering services line item. Those two items will be reviewed at a later date. Initially, Alderman Garland Steuber requested om...

Man wants city to pay for new septic systemA Russellville man claims the city owes him a new septic system. In 2012, during construction of a drainage alleviation project on Randal Circle, contractors cut through the lateral lines of Brian Young's septic system. "The system worked perfectly before it was damaged by the city," Young told aldermen at Thursday's City Council meeting. After the damaged occurred, Young said the contractor told him he would inform the city, and the city woul...

County approves raises for employeesPope County employees will receive a 3 percent cost of living raise for 2014. The county’s 2014 operating budget, which included the raise, was approved Tuesday with little discussion. Justice of the Peace Bill Sparks voiced, as he has before during budget hearings, that he could support a one-time stipend, but not an ongoing salary adjustment. “I still have issue with taking the 3 percent increase out of the surplus fund as a permanent increa...

Seay announces candidacy for Yell treasurerRev. Ed Seay of Dardanelle announces that he is seeking the Democrat nomination for Yell County Treasurer. Rev. Seay is currently the pastor of Havana United Methodist Church and Executive Director of Help Network. He is a 1993 graduate of Dardanelle High School. Rev. Seay stated, “I believe the 12 years I spent managing multi-million dollar retail stores and the efficiency with which I manage Help Network will be valuable assets to the Treasu...

Massive crowds, world leaders to honor Nelson Mandela JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa expects overwhelming crowds and a host of world leaders to attend services honoring late President Nelson Mandela, though with the ceremonies only days away officials acknowledged Saturday they couldn't offer any specifics yet. Across the country, South Africans already have begun honoring Mandela, who died Thursday at age 95, and officials expect tens of thousands to participate in next week's official service...

Council to vote on 2014 budgetThe Russellville City Council is expected to vote on the city’s 2014 budgets at its December meeting. A day-long series of budget hearings was held Wednesday for aldermen to review and discuss proposed budget items. Mayor Bill Eaton said the hearings led to very little change in the proposed budgets. “We’ve had very few questions raised, and I think everybody ... is in agreement and in approval of what we presented,” he said. Budget are very s...

Cotton’s mother touts son in Senate campaign adWASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, is turning this week to his mother for a helping hand in his campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark. Avis Cotton is featured in a new ad campaign, trumpeting her son’s service as an infantry officer in Iraq and Afghanistan as a reason to send him to the Senate. The ad began airing Friday in the Jonesboro area, according to the Cotton campaign. “After Harvard, he gave up a great career to...

River Valley legislators recognizedTwo local legislators were recently recognized by the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association (APAA). The APAA presented Sen. Michael Lamoureux and Rep. John Catlett with the Advocate of Justice Aware for their work and support of prosecution efforts during the 89th General Assembly. Bob McMahan, prosecutor coordinator, said the awards are presented to legislators that go "above and beyond" in pushing for legislation that furthers the goals...

Pottsville approves building purchaseThe Pottsville City Council approved Monday the purchase of a building next to City Hall for $75,000. The building will house the city's water and street departments. Once the sale is finalized and minor adjustments are made to the building, the city employees will occupy the facility. "It's pretty well set up for exactly how we would want to build a building," Mayor Jerry Williams said. The city also approved rezoning a property on River Road...

County to vote on 3 percent raiseThe Pope County Quorum Court is set to vote on approval of the county budget — including a three percent cost-of-living raise for employees — at its meeting next week. At a final budget hearing Monday, JPs discussed the implications of a salary increase for the county’s employees in a year where projected expenses already exceed expected revenues. Surplus investment funds are expected to be used to make up the shortfall. “What they’re asking f...

Dardanelle council OKs request for injunctionDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle City Council approved Monday a request for an injunction against a man who has protested at City Hall for several weeks. With the council’s approval, the petition can now be signed by the mayor and city attorney and presented to a judge for approval. Tony Lamb has staged a protest against the city since early November, claiming two sewer backups into his house were the result of a clogged city sewer main. The city d...

Drown announces candidacyTrevor Drown, 43, of Russellville announces he will be a Republican candidate for State Representative, District 68, in the Republican primary on May 20, 2014. Robert E. Dale’s tenure as state representative is ending, because he has reached his term limit. District 68 covers parts of Pope and Van Buren counties. Drown is a graduate of Russellville High School and Arkansas Tech University. He is a U.S. Army Green Beret, having served with dist...